The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government.
Read our disclaimer for details.

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) are a class of antiretroviral drugs used to inhibit viral replication. They do so by interfering with a key step in the replication process. Some HIV PIs have been associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular side effects. Further study is needed, however, to assess the full extent of effect of newer HIV PIs, including atazanavir and lopinavir/ritonavir, on cardiovascular disease risk. This study will compare the effects of atazanavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and placebo on certain cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy people without HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy for HIV, particularly with the use of PIs, is associated with an increased risk of heart attack. Specific cardiovascular side effects seen with the use of some PIs include insulin resistance, abnormal blood lipid levels, and endothelial dysfunction (abnormalities in the cells that line the inner surface of blood vessels). Past studies have shown that treatment with indinavir, an older PI, results in significant endothelial dysfunction, which may be the main cause for the increase in cardiovascular risk. Indinavir is now seldom used in clinical practice, and the newer PIs atazanavir and combination lopinavir/ritonavir now account for nearly 70% of total PI use in the United States. It is not known what effect these new PIs have on endothelial dysfunction. This study will compare the effects of atazanavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and placebo on certain cardiovascular disease risk factors, including abnormal glucose metabolism and endothelial dysfunction, in healthy people without HIV.

Participation in this study will last 4 weeks. All participants will undergo initial assessments that will include various vascular and metabolic evaluations. Body weight, height, basal heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure will also be measured. Participants will then be assigned randomly to receive 4 weeks of treatment with 400 mg of atazanavir per day plus placebo, 400 mg/100 mg of lopinavir/ritonavir twice per day plus placebo, or placebos for both drugs per day. Upon completing the 4 weeks of treatment, participants will repeat the initial assessments.

Eligibility

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy and lean with normal lipids

Not infected with HIV or viral hepatitis

Exclusion Criteria:

Contacts and Locations

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00720590